Improvement in spike-extractors



J. w. BUTLER.

Patented Sep.3, 1872.

flimwam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BUTLER, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPlKE-EXTRACTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,050, dated September 3, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BUTLER, of the city of Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Spike-Extractors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawin Nature and Objects of the Invention.

The invention, relates to a frame provided with a j ack-screw workingvertically, and operating an upright claw-bar provided with a clutch of requisite form and dimensions for grasping the head of a railroad-spike. The object of the invention is to provide a means of rapidly and eificiently drawing railroadspikes from the ties and for other analogous purposes.

Description of the Accompanying Draioing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is also a perspective view, showmg the rectangular shoulder 0.

General Description.

A in the accompanying drawing is a standard provided with the foot a, placed at right angles to the lower extremity of the claw-bar, and connected by the cross-bar B with the double-arched standard 0, which is provided with the rectangular foot 12. The dimensions of the standards A and G are similar, so that the lower surfaces of the feet a and b are in the same horizontal plane. The frame, composed of the parts A, G, a, and b, and crossbar B, may be varied in construction, the standard A being made double and similar to the standard 0; the frame may be cast or wrought in one or more pieces its height should be about three (3) or four (4) feet. The cross-bar B is enlarged at its middle part, and provided with a threaded aperture, in which revolves the jack-screw D, the upper parts of which are provided with an angular shoulder, 0, over which fits a corresponding aperture at the center of the lever E, the extremities of which areprovided with upright handles. The upper end of the jack-screw D projects above the adjacent parts of the lever E, is of reduced diameter, and threaded to receive the nut e, which secures the lever upon the jackscrew, the lower part of which is provided with a thread working in the aperture in the crossbar B, and extending from the shoulder c nearly to the lower extremity of the jack-screw, where itis cylindrical in form, its base being provided with a plate or button, d, of proper dimensions. The upper part of the frame F is provided with a collar, f, through which the jack-screwD passes, thus suspending the frame F upon the jack-screw by the collar resting upon the button d. The frame F is composed of the collar f, bars g, and cylinder h, the collar being connected by the bars with the cylinder, which is provided with a thread to receive the screw on the upper end of the clawbar H; the bars 9 being of such dimensions as to allow a sufficient amount of space between the under surface of the button d and the upper surface of the cylinder h, to which the claw-bar may be secured in the aforesaid or any other suitable manner. The claw-bar H consists of a bar of metal of proper weight and dimensions, having its lower surface convex and its extremity provided with the rounded prongs or claws i, separated by a conical aperture with reversed apex, and so constructed that when forced about the rear of the lower part of the head of a railroad-spike it will clutch the same. The vertical axes of the jack-screw D, frame F,and claw-bar H are coincident.

Operation.

Place the-foot a upon the tie or other device supporting the rail, inside of the rail, and adjacent to the spike to be removed, opposite the foot a, and outside the rail place the foot b so that the claw-bar H is almost directly above the spike, and so situated that its convex surface slightly impinges upon the upper surface of the tie; place the claws i i so that the rear lower part of the head of the spike lies opposite the center of the space between them; then with a sharp tap upon the rear of the claw-bar force the claws about the aforesaid portion of the spike; then operate the lever E in such manner as to elevate the clawbar H which will draw the spike vertically and without bending it. The above follows, as the lower part of the rear of the heads of railroad-spikes is generally reduced or beveled, and this part stands outside of the rail. The

above construction of the spike prevents its head passing through the reversed cone-shap ed aperture between the prongs when the clawbar is operated as aforesaid.

It is obvious that the above operation can be applied with equal efiiciency to all spikes, bolts, and analogous devices which are provided with a head, and are forced by driving in the material holding them.

I do not claim the device shown in the patent of R. Haynes, dated July 25, 1836; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Witnesses:

EBENEZER B. BARKER, J EssE LANDRUM. 

